The political campaigns of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney suspended, halting the sniping and vitriol that had infiltrated the news recently. Both candidates immediately pulled negative advertisements from Colorado television channels, and the president canceled a Florida campaign stop to return to Washington.

The president delivered a somber address this morning, after releasing a statement that said he was “shocked and saddened by the horrific and tragic shooting,” and called for the nation to come together in the wake of the attack.

“What matters at the end of the day is not the small things, it’s not the trivial things which so often consume us in our daily lives,” Obama said during his seven-minute speech. “Ultimately it is how we choose to treat one another and how we love.”

Romney is scheduled to deliver remarks in New Hampshire this afternoon, a speech his camp said would no longer serve as a stump speech, but as a response to the shooting. Campaign events with his wife, Ann Romney, have been canceled, and a statement was posted to the Republican candidate’s Twitter feed this morning.

“Ann & I are deeply saddened by the news of the violence in CO. Praying for the loved ones of the victims during this time of immense grief,” Romney’s feed read.

Members of the Texas congressional delegation also took to social media to broadcast messages of shock and support, with many posting on their Facebook pages in the wake of the shooting. Many Congressmen, including Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, Sam Johnson, R-Plano, Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, Charlie Gonzalez, D-San Antonio and Louis Gohmert, R- Tyler, said their “thoughts and prayers” were with the victims and families of Aurora after what many called a “horrific” and “tragic” event.

“May God bless the victims, their families and all impacted by this senseless tragedy in Colorado!” Rep. Pete Olson, R- Sugar Land, wrote, echoing the theme of his colleagues’ posts.

Mitt Romney. (AP Photo)

“Let’s come together as Americans to help those affected heal in the days ahead,” Rep. Francisco Canseco, R- San Antonio, added.

Rep. Kenny Marchant, R-Coppell, asked for those “killed or injured” in the shooting, as well as their families, to be kept in his constituents’ thoughts and prayers.

Rep. Ted Poe, R- Humble, touched upon competing feelings of shock, sadness and anger in his Facebook post, which called for immediate accountability in the wake of the attack.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragedy in Colorado last night. My thoughts & prayers are with the victims and their families. May justice be swift and harsh for the shooter,” Poe wrote.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry put aside politics on his Twitter feed, sending a message of support to Colorado and praising those who traveled to the scene of the shooting, as did Houston Rep. Henry Cueller.

“My thoughts and prayers are with everyone whose lives were touched by the random, senseless act of violence last night in Colorado. Thank you to the first responders, law enforcement agents and medical professionals. Aurora, know that you are in our hearts today,” Cueller posted on his Facebook page.